Program-related Investment

2007, 24 pages. National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, 2001 S Street NW, Suite 620, Washington, D.C. 20009, 202-387-9177, www.ncrp.org

Download pdf: www.ncrp.org

2006, 90 pages, Grantmakers for Education, 720 S.W. Washington St., Suite 605, Portland, OR 97205, 503-595-2100, www.edfunders.org

Download pdf: www.educationdonor.org

2007, 19 pages. Dance USA, 1111 16th St NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036, www.danceusa.org

2007, 31 pages. The Skillman Foundation, 100 Talon Centre Drive, Suite 100, Detroit, MI 48207, 313-393-1185

Download pdf: www.skillman.org

Re-imagining Orchestras: A forthright report on the mixed results of one foundation's efforts

Stan Hutton

Background

The highlight of summer in Santa Fe this year was the June 17 (1997) opening of the Georgia O'Keefe Museum, a project of the Burnett Foundation. Anyone needing a caterer, carpenter, or waiter was...well, disappointed. The entire town was consumed by opening festivities. As one grantmaker noted, this was Georgia's version of “Desert Storm.” The number of museum visitors staff predicted for the entire year was roughly 150,000—but in the six weeks following the opening, numbers have already totaled 90,000.

The Boston Foundation is one of the oldest community foundations in the nation. With an asset base of about $500 million, it makes grants of approximately $20 million each year in the Greater Boston area. For the past four years, the Foundation's discretionary grantmaking has been guided by its Building Family and Community Initiative. This initiative focuses on helping Boston's children and their families overcome poverty.

The following article is based on excerpts from a program examination by Arts Action Research.

Bimbo Rivas: Artist Profile

There are an abundance of theories — and even more clichés — about why the arts should be in young people's lives. However, academically rigorous research that demonstrates the power of the arts is scarce. This article summarizes a decade of research by a team of anthropologists in after-school programs identified by young people themselves as high quality. The researchers found common characteristics that made these programs successful, whether their focus was academic, sport, community service, or the arts. The balance of these characteristics differs among programs, though.